REPORT
OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS ON THE 2014 DIVISION OF REVENUE
AMENDMENT BILL [B11 – 2014], DATED 05 NOVEMBER 2014
The Standing Committee on Appropriations, having considered the Division
of Revenue Amendment Bill [B11 – 2014], reports as follows:
1.
Introduction
The Division of Revenue Amendment Bill (henceforth referred to as the
Bill) was tabled in Parliament on 22 October 2014 by the Minister of Finance
during the presentation of the 2014 Medium Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS);
and referred to the Committee on 4 November 2014. The Bill addresses the
following matters:
·
Changes in the equitable division of nationally
raised revenue among the spheres of government;
·
Adjustments to Provincial Allocations;
·
Adjustments to Local Government Allocations;
·
Function Shifts; and
·
Changes to gazetted frameworks and allocations
(i.e. technical corrections).
This report focuses on amendments proposed in the Bill tabled by the
Minister.
2.
Equitable
division of revenue raised nationally, among the spheres of government
Table 1 hereunder outlines the equitable division of revenue raised
nationally among the three spheres of government as reflected in the Bill as
Schedule 1.
Table 1: Schedule 1
Spheres of Government R’000 |
2014/15 Main Allocation |
Adjustment |
2014/15 Adjusted
Allocation |
National |
735 604 179 |
(6 222 624) |
729 381 555 |
Provincial |
362 468 075 |
|
362 468 075 |
Local |
44 490 145 |
|
44 490 145 |
TOTAL |
1 142 562 399 |
(6 222 624) |
1 136 339 775 |
The net effect of the 2014 adjustments is a reduction in the 2014/15
estimates of expenditure from R1.143 trillion to R1.136 trillion. For 2014/15,
main budget spending was revised down by R6.2 billion to R1.136 trillion
compared with the 2014 Budget estimate. However, this still represents an
increase in expenditure of 8.5 per cent over the 2013/14 outcome.
3.
Changes in
provincial allocations
In terms of the Provincial Equitable Share, there were no in-year additions to the equitable share. All
non-discretionary obligations must be adequately provided for within provincial
budgets. Significant changes to the provincial grant allocations include:
Rollover of Conditional
Grant
Conversions of Indirect
Provincial Conditional Grants to Direct Provincial Conditional Grants
A reduction of R375 million
from the indirect National Health Grant) through the following:
4.
Changes in local
government allocations
Significant changes to the local government allocations include:
Disaster recovery:
Rollovers:
Unforeseen and unavoidable
(Municipal Water Infrastructure Grant):
5.
Function Shifts
Following the national and provincial elections in 2014, several changes
to the functions and structures of national departments were announced and the
2014 adjustments budget provides for the following:
-
The Rural Households Infrastructure Grant (direct
and indirect) which funds on-site sanitation for rural areas where reticulated
services are not feasible;
-
Human Settlements Development Grant (indirect
portion) which funds the eradication of bucket sanitation.
6.
Changes to
gazetted frameworks and allocations
Section 16(2) of the Division of Revenue Act (No.10 of 2014) requires
National treasury to consult Parliament on any proposed changes to a
conditional grant framework for the purposes of correcting an error or omission
before gazetting the changes. The proposed changes to the provincial and local
government conditional grant frameworks include:
Education Infrastructure
Grant:
Health Facility
Revitalisation Grant:
National Health Grant:
Health Facility Revitalisation Component:
National Health Grant:
National Health Insurance Component:
Provincial Roads Maintenance
Grant:
Human Settlements
Development Grant (indirect portion):
Details per municipality of the changes to municipal grant allocations
and details per province of the changes to indirect grant allocations will also
be gazetted
7.
Recommendation
The Standing Committee on Appropriations, having considered the Division
of Revenue Amendment Bill [B11 – 2014] (National Assembly – section 76(1) (the
Bill), tabled on 22 October 2014 as part of the 2014 Medium Term Budget Policy
Statement and classified as a Section 76 (1) Bill, recommends that the Bill be
adopted, without amendments.
Report to be considered.